Juan Diego CHS marching band debuts in Draper Days parade; ready to appear in Days of '47 event

Friday, Jul. 24, 2015

DRAPER — The newly formed Juan Diego Catholic High School marching band represented the school and the Catholic community as they performed publicly for the first time July 18 when, led by the JDCHS color guard, they participated in the Draper Days parade.

“This is our first marching band and our first color guard – it’s social and it helps the community,” said Natalie Tita, a member of the color guard. “I’m super excited.”

“I’m happy, the kids are excited and this is a good chance for them to represent their school in a more professional way,” said Jed Blodgett, JDCHS percussion and orchestra director, who has had the dream of starting a marching band for about six years. 

When Fiona McGowan was hired as the JDCHS band director three years ago, that dream started to take shape; the marching band was formed late this spring.

McGowan, who played in marching bands in high school and college, formed the 50-student JDCHS marching band; they play the woodwinds and brass instruments with the drum line and percussion sections.

Wanting to build a bigger band, “I never stop dreaming,” McGowan said. “We are hoping to get as many kids as are interested in joining; we’ve done really well for our first year. We are blessed at Juan Diego to have a lot of in-class music options: a jazz band, an orchestra, a band; the marching band meets outside of the class day. The rehearsals have been taking place over the summer on the kids’ own time; during the school year they will rehearse after school.” 

For her first parade, McGowan was given congratulations and support from Matt Chapman, her former band director from Illinois Valley Central High School in Chillicothe, Ill., where she played saxophone from 2004-2008; he flew to Utah to see the JDCHS marching band debut.

“I am very proud of Fiona,” Chapman said. “This is a testament to all of the hard work she has put in and her passion for music. … She is excited about what she is doing here and I can see it growing. It’s exciting for me to come out and witness what she is starting to do in her career.”

For the past several weeks, the band students have been learning “quickly to march and play their instruments,” said McGowan. “It’s not hard, it’s just a different skill – they have learned so much so fast; they are doing a great job.” 

The marching band has learned two numbers for the summer parades; they also will participate in the Days of ’47 parade July 24. As fall approaches, they will learn additional songs and formations to perform for the JDCHS football games.

Marching in her first parade, drum major Emily Davis was nervous, because this time, “I was a little in charge,” she said. “Having a marching band is amazing. I also play the flute and piccolo. The school has had a pep band and a drum line in the past but this is the best thing ever. I’ve been waiting for this since my freshman year when we started talking about it and now I’m a senior.”